November’s Top 10 Audiobooks.com Member Downloads

Listen to last month’s roundup of the top fiction and non-fiction titles downloaded by Audiobooks.com members.

 

Fiction

1. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty, narrated by Caroline Lee

Nine people gather at a remote health resort. Some are here to lose weight, some are here to get a reboot on life, some are here for reasons they can’t even admit to themselves. They know they would have to put in some hard work, but it’s not long before every guest begins to question the pristine facade of Tranquillum House and its strange and charismatic owner.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

2. Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly, narrated by Titus Welliver and Christine Lakin

Harry Bosch teams up with LAPD detective Renée Ballard to solve the case of fifteen-year-old Daisy Clayton, a runaway on the streets of Hollywood who was brutally killed. Along the way, the two detectives forge a fragile trust, but this new partnership is put to the test when the case takes an unexpected and dangerous turn.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

3. Past Tense: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child, narrated by Scott Brick

Two Canadians trying to get to New York City are stranded at a lonely motel in the middle of nowhere. Before long they’re trapped in an ominous game of life and death. Meanwhile, Jack Reacher decides to visit the town where his father was born, only to be told no one named Reacher ever lived there. As these two stories begin to entwine, the stakes rise to impossible heights for Reacher.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

4. Fire & Blood 300 Years Before A Game of Thrones (A Targaryen History) by George R. R. Martin, narrated by Simon Vance

Centuries before the events of A Game of Thrones, House Targaryen—the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria—took up residence on Dragonstone. Fire & Blood begins their tale with the legendary Aegon the Conqueror, creator of the Iron Throne, and goes on to recount the generations of Targaryens who fought to hold that iconic seat, all the way up to the civil war that nearly tore their dynasty apart.
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5. Long Road to Mercy by David Baldacci, narrated by Kyf Brewer and Brittany Pressley

Ever since her twin sister was abducted by a notorious serial killer at age five, Atlee Pine has spent her life hunting down those who hurt others. When she is called in to investigate the mutilated carcass of a mule found in the Grand Canyon and its missing rider, Atlee believes it may just be the key to unraveling a rash of other similar missing persons cases in the canyon.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

Non-Fiction

1. Becoming by Michelle Obama, narrated by Michelle Obama

In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

2. Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brené Brown, narrated by Brené Brown

When we dare to lead, we stay curious and ask the right questions. We don’t see power as finite and hoard it; we know that power becomes infinite when we share it with others. We don’t avoid difficult conversations and situations; we lean into vulnerability when it’s necessary to do good work. In Dare to LeadBrown shows us how to put those ideas into practice so we can step up and lead.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

3. Killing the SS: The Hunt for the Worst War Criminals in History by Bill O’reillyMartin Dugard, narrated by Bill O’reilly

Killing the SS is the epic saga of the self-styled ‘Nazi hunters.’ Among them were a French husband and wife team, an American lawyer who served in the army on D-Day, a German prosecutor who had signed an oath to the Nazi Party, and a death camp survivor. Over decades, these men and women scoured the world, tracking down the SS fugitives and bringing them to justice.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

4. How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie, narrated by Andrew Macmillan

You can go after the job you want…and get it! You can take the job you have…and improve it! You can take any situation you’re in…and make it work for you! For over 60 years the rock-solid, time-tested advice in this audiobook has carried thousands of now-famous people up the ladder of success in their business and personal lives.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

 

5. Shook One: Anxiety Playing Tricks on Me by Charlamagne Tha God, narrated by Charlamagne Tha God

Being “shook” is more than a rap lyric for Charlamagne, it’s his mission to overcome. While it may seem like he’s ahead of the game, he is actually plagued by anxieties, such as the fear of losing his roots, the fear of being a bad dad, and the fear of being a terrible husband. Shook One chronicles his journey to beat those fears and shows a path that you too can take to overcome the anxieties that may be holding you back.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

New to Audiobooks.com? Get a free audiobook when you sign up for our one month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobook!

5 New Christmas Audiobooks to Listen to This Holiday Season

If you’ve already listened to all of the classic Christmas audiobooks, treat yourself to these new Christmas stories that will warm your heart and make you believe in the magic of the holiday season all over again.

1. The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan, narrated by Mandy Weston

The Christmas Sisters.

There is nothing like the holidays to bring family back together. I enjoyed the way this book deals with emotions, conflicts, and crisis all with the warmth of the season.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Christmas at the Palace by Jeevani Charika, narrated by Carlyss Peer

Christmas at the Palace.

I’m still revelling in the magic of the royal weddings this past year, so this was a perfect story to add to my Christmas reading. You’ll devour this delightfully modern Christmas romance.
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3. The White Christmas Inn by Colleen Wright, narrated by Samantha Desz

The White Christmas Inn.

There are some books you just want to jump into and experience; this is one of those books for me. Filled with lovable characters — each pulling through their own difficulties — in a picture perfect setting, you’re sure to enjoy this lighthearted holiday read.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

 

 

4. A Nancy Drew Christmas by Carolyn Keene, narrated by Jorjeana Marie

A Nancy Drew Christmas.

This book transported me back to my much younger days of reading Nancy Drew as a young girl. For adults coming to Nancy Drew again, you will not be disappointed. For newcomers to Nancy Drew, you will enjoy this Christmas themed adventure.
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5. The Noel Stranger by Richard Paul Evans, narrated by Erin Mallon

The Noel Stranger.

It just wouldn’t be Christmas without reading Richard Paul Evans. He’s back and totally on Christmas spirit form with The Noel Stranger. While for me this one was a slight departure from his normal Christmas titles, you will still enjoy the true meaning of the holidays with this book and this is a not-to-be missed story.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

 

New to Audiobooks.com? Get a free audiobook when you sign up for our one month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobook!

The Hottest Audiobooks for Fall Listening

Whether you need a great new listen for your long weekend road trip or in between servings of turkey, the best books of fall (so far!) will leave you wanting seconds.

 

1. Elevation by Stephen King, narrated by Stephen King

Scott Carey is engaged in a battle with the lesbians next door. One of them is friendly; the other, cold as ice. Both are trying to launch a new restaurant, but the people of Castle Rock want no part of a gay married couple. When Scott finally understands the prejudices they face, he tries to help. Unlikely alliances and the mystery of his affliction bring out the best in people who have indulged the worst in themselves and others.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

2. Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon, narrated by Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon invites readers into her world, where she infuses the southern style, parties, and traditions she loves with contemporary flair and charm. Her heritage informs her life, and she loves sharing and reflecting on entertaining, decorating her home, and favorite traditions, from midnight barn parties to backyard bridal showers, magical Christmas mornings to rollicking honky-tonks.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

3. Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking, narrated by Ben Whishaw

Brief Answers to the Big Questions.

Stephen Hawking was the most renowned scientist since Einstein, known for his groundbreaking work in physics and cosmology. Hawking turns his attention to the most urgent issues facing us. Will humanity survive? Should we colonize space? Does God exist? These are just a few of the questions Hawking addresses in this wide-ranging, passionately argued final book from one of the greatest minds in history.
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4. Family Trust by Kathy Wang, narrated by Joy Osmanski

Family Trust.

For years, Stanley Huang has claimed he’s worth a small fortune. But the details of his estate will finally be revealed, and his family is nervous. As his death approaches, the Huangs are faced with challenges that upend them and eventually lead them to discover what they most value. A compelling tale of cultural expectations, career ambitions and relationships, Family Trust is a portrait of the modern American family.
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5. Dear Evan Hansen by Benj PasekSteven Levenson, and Val Emmich, narrated by Ben Levi RossMike Faist, and Mallory Bechtel

Dear Evan Hansen.

When a letter that was never meant to be seen by anyone draws high school senior Evan Hansen into a family’s grief over their dead son, he’s given the chance of a lifetime: to belong. He just has to stick to a lie. No longer tangled in his once-incapacitating anxiety, Evan has a purpose, a website, and becomes a viral phenomenon. Every day is amazing, until everything is in danger of unraveling.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

6. Heartland by Sarah Smarsh, narrated by Sarah Smarsh

Heartland.

Sarah Smarsh was born a fifth generation Kansas wheat farmer on her paternal side, and generations of teen mothers on her maternal side. Through her experience growing up on a farm 30 miles west of Wichita, we are given a unique and essential look into the lives of poor, working class Americans living in the heartland and examine the myths about people thought to be less because they earn less.
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7. I Might Regret This by Abbi Jacobson, narrated by Abbi Jacobson

I Might Regret This.

When Abbi Jacobson told friends she planned to drive across the country alone, she was met with lots of questions and opinions: most commonly, why? On her way to Los Angeles, she mulled over the big questions — What do I really want? What is the worst scenario in which I could run into my ex? In this collection, readers will feel like they’re in the passenger seat on a fun and inspiring journey.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

New to Audiobooks.com? Get a free audiobook when you sign up for our one month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobook!

October’s Top 10 Audiobooks.com Member Downloads

Listen to last month’s roundup of the top fiction and non-fiction titles downloaded by Audiobooks.com members.

 

Fiction

1. The Reckoning by John Grisham, narrated by Michael Beck

Pete Banning was Clanton, Mississippi’s favorite son—a decorated World War II hero, the patriarch of a prominent family, a farmer, father, neighbor, and a faithful member of the Methodist church. Then one cool October morning he shot and killed his pastor and friend, the Reverend Dexter Bell.
Read more and sample the audio.     

 

 

 

2. A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult, narrated by Bahni Turpin, Jodi Picoult

The day starts like any other at the Center—a women’s reproductive health services clinic—its staff offering care to anyone who comes. Then, in late morning, a gunman bursts in and opens fire, taking all inside hostage. After setting up a perimeter around the scene, Hugh McElroy, a police hostage negotiator, finds out that his fifteen-year-old daughter, Wren, is inside the clinic.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

3. Juror #3 by James Patterson, Nancy Allen, narrated by Megan Tusing

The murder of a woman from one of Rosedale’s oldest families has the town’s upper crust howling for blood, and the prosecutor is counting on newcomer Ruby Bozarth’s inexperience to help him deliver a swift conviction. Ruby’s client is a college football star who has returned home after a career-ending injury, and she is determined to build a defense that will stick.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

4. Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks, narrated by Vanessa JohanssonSean Cameron Michael

Hope Anderson is at crossroads. Looking for a break, she escapes to her family’s cottage in Sunset Beach, North Carolina to think things over. Tru Walls has never visited North Carolina but is summoned to Sunset Beach by a letter from a man claiming to be his father. When the two strangers cross paths, their connection is as electric as it is unfathomable…
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5. Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand, narrated by Erin Bennett

When Irene Steele’s husband is killed in a plane crash on the distant Caribbean island of St. John, her idyllic life is shattered. After Irene and her sons arrive at this faraway paradise, they make a shocking discovery: her husband had been living a secret life. As they untangle a web of intrigue and deceit, they have to face the truth about their family, and about their own futures.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

Non-Fiction

1. Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brené Brown, narrated by Brené Brown

When we dare to lead, we stay curious and ask the right questions. We don’t see power as finite and hoard it; we know that power becomes infinite when we share it with others. We don’t avoid difficult conversations and situations; we lean into vulnerability when it’s necessary to do good work. In Dare to Lead, Brown shows us how to put those ideas into practice so we can step up and lead.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

2. Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward, narrated by Robert Petkoff

Bob Woodward reveals in unprecedented detail the harrowing life inside President Donald Trump’s White House and precisely how he makes decisions on major foreign and domestic policies. Woodward draws from hundreds of hours of interviews with firsthand sources, meeting notes, personal diaries, files, and documents.
Read more and sample the audio

 

 

3. Ship of Fools: How a Selfish Ruling Class Is Bringing America to the Brink of Revolution by Tucker Carlson, narrated by Tucker Carlson

In Ship of Fools, Tucker Carlson tells the truth about the new American elites, a group whose power and wealth has grown beyond imagination even as the rest of the country has withered. The people who run America now barely interact with it. Left and right are no longer meaningful categories; rather, the rift is between those who benefit from the status quo and those who don’t.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

4. Killing the SS: The Hunt for the Worst War Criminals in History by Bill O’reilly, Martin Dugard, narrated by Bill O’reilly

Killing the SS is the epic saga of the self-styled ‘Nazi hunters.’ Among them were a French husband and wife team, an American lawyer who served in the army on D-Day, a German prosecutor who had signed an oath to the Nazi Party, and a death camp survivor. Over decades, these men and women scoured the world, tracking down the SS fugitives and bringing them to justice.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

5. Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking, narrated by Ben Whishaw

Stephen Hawking not only unraveled some of the universe’s greatest mysteries but also believed science plays a critical role in fixing problems here on Earth. Now, as we face immense challenges on our planet—including climate change, the threat of nuclear war, and the development of artificial intelligence—he turns his attention to the most urgent issues facing us.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

New to Audiobooks.com? Get a free audiobook when you sign up for our one month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobook!

September’s Top 10 Audiobooks.com Member Downloads

Listen to last month’s roundup of the top fiction and non-fiction titles downloaded by Audiobooks.com members.

 

Fiction

1. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan, narrated by Lynn Chen

When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with the man she might one day marry. What she doesn’t know is she will soon be initiated into a world of dynastic splendor beyond imagination. Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

2. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, narrated by Cassandra Campbell

In late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl who haunts Barkley Cove. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life—until the unthinkable happens. Read more and sample the audio.

 

3. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, narrated by Ann Marie Lee

Reporter Camille Preaker must return to her tiny hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her mother or to the half-sister she barely knows. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story—and survive this homecoming. Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

4. A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell, narrated by Xe Sands, Andi ArndtMatthew Waterson

It starts with a simple favor. When her best friend, Emily, asks Stephanie to pick up her son Nicky after school, she happily says yes. But, when Emily doesn’t come back from her high-demand job in Manhattan, Stephanie knows something is wrong. Then, she receives shocking news. Emily is dead. The nightmare of her disappearance is over.
Or is it? Read more and sample the audio.

 

5. Texas Ranger by James Patterson, narrated by Christopher Ryan Grant

Across the ranchlands and cities of his home state, Rory Yates’s discipline and law-enforcement skills have carried him far: from local highway patrolman to the honorable rank of Texas Ranger. He arrives in his hometown to find a horrifying crime scene and a scathing accusation: he is named a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife, Anne. Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

 

Non-Fiction

1. Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward, narrated by Robert Petkoff

Bob Woodward reveals in unprecedented detail the harrowing life inside President Donald Trump’s White House and precisely how he makes decisions on major foreign and domestic policies. Woodward draws from hundreds of hours of interviews with firsthand sources, meeting notes, personal diaries, files, and documents. Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

2.The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson, narrated by Roger Wayne

In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be “positive” all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people. With academic research and well-timed poop jokes, Manson argues that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but on learning to stomach lemons better. Read more and sample the audio.

 

3. In Pieces by Sally Field, narrated by Sally Field

Sally Field has stunned audiences time and time again with her artistic range and emotional acuity. Yet there is one character who always remained hidden: the shy and anxious little girl within. With raw honesty and the fresh, pitch-perfect prose of a natural-born writer, Field brings readers behind-the-scenes of her life and career. Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

4. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Leif BabinJocko Willink, narrated by Jocko WillinkLeif Babin

Leif Babin and Jocko Willink, two U.S. Navy SEAL officers who led the most highly decorated special operations unit of the Iraq War, demonstrate how to apply powerful leadership principles from the battlefield to business and life. Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

 

 

5. 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari, narrated by Derek Perkins

Yuval Noah Harari’s 21 Lessons for the 21st Century is a probing and visionary investigation into today’s most urgent issues as we move into the uncharted territory of the future. Harari addresses the challenge of navigating life in the face of constant and disorienting change and raises the important questions we need to ask ourselves in order to survive. Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

 

 

New to Audiobooks.com? Get a free audiobook when you sign up for our one month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobook!

 

Celebrate Banned Books Week

Banned Book Week celebrates the freedom of reading, including books that express ideas, characters, and storylines that are unorthodox. Check out this post (as well as our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages) every weekday to find out which banned audiobooks we’ll be featuring and the reason some have deemed them too controversial.

 

1. An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser, narrated by Dan Miller
Reason for being banned: Sexual content, abortion, murder

An American Tragedy

In Theodore Dreiser’s classic portrait of the dark side of the American dream, Clyde Griffiths finds his social-climbing aspirations and love for a rich and beautiful debutante threatened when his lower-class pregnant girlfriend gives him an ultimatum. Based on an actual crime case, An American Tragedy tells the story of a society whose values shape Clyde’s ambitions and seal his fate.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

2. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, narrated by Jeff Woodman
Reason for being banned: Offensive language, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other (profanity and atheism)

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Christopher John Francis Boone knows every country of and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow. Christopher’s quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

3. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien, narrated by Rob Inglis
Reason for being banned: Supernatural themes

The Fellowship of the Ring

Inspired by The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings was created to provide “the necessary background of history for Elvish tongues.” The Fellowship of the Ring, the first in the trilogy, tells the fateful power of the One Ring. It begins a magnificent tale of adventure that plunges the members of the Fellowship of the Ring into a perilous quest and sets the stage for the ultimate clash between powers of good and evil.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

4. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk, narrated by James Colby
Reason for being banned: Sexually explicit, violence, anarchist themes, smoking, and drinking

Internationally best-selling author Chuck Palahniuk’s uproarious and irreverent debut novel Fight Club was transformed into a wildly successful film starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt. When a listless office employee meets Tyler Durden, his ho-hum life takes a dramatic turn as a contender in amateur bare-knuckle street fighting matches that soon develop a fanatical following.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

5. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, narrated by Robert Sean Leonard
Reason for being banned: Allegations that the book promotes secular humanism, New Age religion, occultism, and Satanism

Jess Aarons has been practicing all summer so he can be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. And he almost is, until the new girl in school, Leslie Burke, outpaces him. The two become fast friends and spend most days in the woods behind Leslie’s house, where they invent an enchanted land called Terabithia. One morning, Leslie goes to Terabithia without Jess and a tragedy occurs. It will take the love of his family and the strength that Leslie has given him for Jess to be able to deal with his grief.
Read more and sample the audio.

 

 

New to Audiobooks.com? Get a free audiobook when you sign up for our one month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobook!